Henry dixon and breckon dixon



(No Model.)

H. & B. DIXON.

MACHINE FOR DRIVING FENCE POSTS.

No. 281,848. Patented July 24; 1888 %m 8, W mow N. PETERS. PhnloLiihugraphw. Walhivl nnnn .C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEa HENRY DIXON AND BREOKON DIXON, OF NOTTAWVASAGA, COUNTY OF SIMCOE, ONTARIO, CANADA.

MACHINE FOR DRIVING FENCE-POSTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 281,848, dated July 24, 1883.

Application filed February 5, 1883. (No model.)

I 0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it knownthat we, HENRY DIXON and BREOKON DIXON, both subjects of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at the township of Nottawasaga, in the county of Simcoe, in the Province of Ontario, Dominion ofCanada, have invented a certain new and useful Machine for Driving Fence-Posts, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the invention is to. provide a cheaplyrconstructed and effectively-operating machine for driving fence-posts; and the 110V? elty consists in the construction and arrangement of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, and specifically pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of our post-driving machine. Fig. 2 is a detail showing the flexible connection between the guide-frame and the bracing-frame.

A are two horizontal side timbers braced together by the eross-timbers B and O.

D are the rear wheels, properly journaled on short axles not extending across the ma chine.

E are the front wheels, properly journaled on the front axle, F, to which the tongue G is secured.

H are two timbers extending from the opposite end of the timber B in a baekwardly and inwardly slanting direction to a point vertically, or nearly so, above the centralpoint relatively to the wheels, where they meet and are rigidly secured together.

I are bracing-timbers extending from the rear ends of the timbers A to a point near the top end of the timbers H, which they are detom of the frame J, and passing through slotted passage-ways made in the center of the timber K. This forked foot works loosely in the passage-ways cut for its reception through the cross-timbers K, and is not intended to carry any portion of the weight of the frame J, merely acting as a guide for the said frame, the inclination of which can thereby readily be adjusted by the movement of the cross-timber K.

N is a metal block of any suitable weight, and provided with guides which fit over the guiding-frame J, as shown. This block has thereby free vertical movement upon the guiding-frame J, but has no lateral motion thereon.

O is a sliding cross-head attached to and sliding upon the guiding-frame J.

P is a pair of tongs pivoted upon the cross-head O, and having hooked ends to fit over the V-shaped head a, formed upon or attached to the block N. An ordinary spring or springs are employed to act with a constant force to hold the hooked ends of the said fork together.

.9 are two pins projecting from the'face of the guiding-frame J at its top end. These pins are intended to come in contact with and open the tongs P when the said tongs are raised to the top of the frame J by the rope or chain Q, which passes over suitable pulleys in the frame, as shown.

B is a support suitably pivoted to the frame J, and having a notched end, into which the bottom edge of theblock N fits when it is desired to support the said block, while the post to be driven is being adjusted below it.

Having now described the general construction of our fence-post-driving machine, we shall now proceed to explain its operation.

Instead of digging holes when about to erect a fence, we sharpen slightlyone end of the post, and, driving our machine on the line of the fence, place the post against the guiding-frame J. This guiding-frame being adjustable on the horizontal frame, which rests 011 the ground, it is set so as to be perpendicular, in order that the blow of the falling block N will drive the post straight into the ground. Having adjusted the frame J, by moving the cross-timber K, so that the said frame J shall be exactly perpendicular, we tighten the clampingnuts L. Having permitted the cross-head O to descend, so that the spring-tongs P shall grasp the V- shaped head attached to the weight or block N, we draw upon the rope Q until the cross head 0 reaches the top of the frame J, when the legs of the tongs 1? come in contact with the pins 9, opening the said tongs and releasing them from the block N, which immediately falls from its elevated position onto the post below it. As shown in the drawings, the block has just fallen from the tongs. It will be seen that this operation can be repeated with great rapidity, a horse being preferably used for the purpose of raising the weight. As each post is driven into the ground as far as required, the machine is drawn to the next point where it is desired to drive a post, and the operation repeated.

The portability of our post-driving machine will be found a great advantage; but the great feature of the invention is the facility with which the frame on which the weight slides can be adjusted so as to maintain a perpendicular position, notwithstanding the unevenness of the ground over which the machine is drawn.

\Ve are aware of Patent N 0. 20,563, of 1858, in which a guide-frame works in a sextant, and

is adjustable by universal joint and suspended HENRY DIXON. BRECKON DIXON.

Witnesses:

PAUL RUssELL OUMMING, 'li-ros. E. RICHARDSON. 

